The Philadelphia 2030 District: Measuring Transportation Emissions Now and in the Future A Quantitative and Qualitative Review

Abstract

This MP primarily focuses on the challenges surrounding measurement of Philadelphia’s 2030 District transportation emissions. While in the past, policy makers have primarily focused on electric power generation and industry to limit the growth of GHG emissions, transportation emissions today account for 27 percent of U.S. GHG emissions (EPA, 2015). Transportation is also now the fastest-growing source of GHG emissions, and there are 1/3 more vehicles on the road than there were in 1990 (Sorrel, 2016). Transportation infrastructure lasts decades, and the decisions surrounding urban development comes not just from national, but local and city governments. This is where cities, in partnership with businesses and other stakeholders, can play a substantial role in limiting the growth of these emissions, both now and in the future.

This project has three focuses: 1. A Quantitative Review. I developed a transportation GHG emissions baseline for the Philadelphia 2030 District. 2. Qualitative: I designed a survey to track transportation emissions moving forward for the District. 3. Comparative: I researched the five Districts already measuring their transportation GHG emissions.